Being involved in a car crash is a frightening experience regardless of whether it is a seemingly minor or more serious accident. People involved in car accidents are often overwhelmed with shock immediately afterward. This shock can leave a victim’s judgment obscured. Even if a victim is not in pain immediately following a car crash, it is always important to get medical attention as soon as possible if any symptoms or injuries become apparent. Unfortunately, however, people do not always remember to seek out medical care. The information below provides an overview of the problems in a case that can arise when an injured person waits to receive medical treatment following a car crash.
Waiting to Receive Medical Care After an Accident: Common Delayed Onset Injuries
Some injuries are immediately recognizable after car crashes, like a broken leg or a large laceration, but others are more difficult to spot right away. The most common types of injuries that may not be apparent immediately after car crashes include the following:
• Headaches are one of the most common symptoms of injuries that people experience after crashes. While some headaches are harmless, others suggest much larger and life-endangering complications, such as traumatic brain injuries.
• Pain in the neck and shoulders is often a sign of whiplash. While some people experience this pain immediately following a crash, for others, the symptoms take time to set in.
• If you begin to experience back pain following a crash, it might be a symptom of one of several conditions including a soft tissue injury, a herniated disc, or a sprain.
• Whiplash does not always cause neck or shoulder pain. Instead, whiplash can sometimes manifest in numbness throughout the body.
• Any type of abdominal pain after a crash could suggest internal bleeding.
Avoid Dealing with Your Insurance Carrier While in the ER
You should do everything possible to avoid making critical decisions or having any type of communication with someone who does not have your best interest in mind while you are receiving medical care for your injuries after a car crash. While you may have to speak with your own insurance company at some point after the crash, it can be detrimental to do so when a person is medicated or still in shock following a car crash. An injured person’s focus at that time should be on getting the medical attention needed. It is always best to talk with an attorney before speaking with any insurance company. While an attorney owes you a fiduciary duty, an insurance company’s sole objective is always paying as little as possible on a claim.
Waiting to Receive Medical Care After an Accident: Medical Bills
One of the most common reasons people involved in car crashes avoid or postpone receiving medical care is that they want to avoid paying the resulting medical bills. Going to a medical facility immediately following the crash, however, could save substantial costs down the road. Insurance companies love gaps in treatment (this includes any delays in getting treatment following a car crash and any lapses in treatment once an injured person has already started treating) because gaps in treatment allow them to argue that a person’s injuries weren’t caused by the crash or that if they were severe injuries then the person would have immediately obtained medical treatment.
Speak With an Experienced Car Crash Attorney
If you or a loved one is in a car crash, it is critical to promptly seek medical treatment afterward. Another wise step to take is to obtain the assistance of a compassionate personal injury lawyer. Contact House Law LLC today to schedule a free case evaluation.
Tags: auto accident, car accident, personal injury
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